The Solstice Crown
This is a Manhattan built for a monarch — bold, unhurried, a little theatrical, exactly like Leo at its best. The cherry and chocolate in the 6-Year Bourbon are the warmth Leo runs on; the flamed orange peel is the flourish Leo can't resist; the gold rim is the crown. It's also our nod to Leo's card this year, Strength — the drama lives in the flourish, not in force; the power is in how steady the pour stays. Reach for The Solstice Crown when you're celebrating a win you earned in full view of everyone — or when you need one steady, radiant sip to remember who you are before you make the call that requires courage.
The Solstice Crown Recipe
½ oz Cherry Herring
½ oz Sweet Vermouth
dash of orange bitters
Flamed orange peel, expressed over glass
Brandied cherry, gold sugar rim to garnish
Stir all liquid ingredients over ice until well-chilled. Strain into a coupe with a gold sugar rim. Flame the orange peel over the glass for aromatic drama, then drop it in alongside a brandied cherry.
